12 Hour Challenge

8,000 feet of climbing. 50 miles of punishing headwinds. As the day wore on, I had virtually abandonded the idea that I would be able to make my goal of 200 miles. With 3 hours to go, a 3 mile wrong turn and a 15 mile stretch straight into the winds whipping off the Delta, I settled in to just complete the race. 190 miles I figured. Not bad for a first time doing anything of the kind.

Forget that! Once I hit Winters and entered the 18 mile loop around the orchards, I quickly realized that 200 miles was within reach. To make it would require a final 18 mile loop at over 19 mph average. The afternoon winds were ferocious.

My mind wandered back to 25 years ago (this month) to the final 6 miles of the Boston Marathon. Heartbreak Hill. Winds coming off the Atlantic. As the screaming crowds pressed in around the runners along Commonwealth Avenue, my legs screamed louder: Quit!

Back then, and 25 years later on the farm roads outside of Winters, there would be no quit. 200 miles was within reach.

The significance of yesterday is really quite simple - less than 2 years ago I weighed in at 235. This is all about the power of the human will and the incredible feats of the human body. Yesterday, I was pretty impressed with what was accomplished yesterday. Notice I did not say that I was impressed with myself. I am amazed at what virutally anyone can do if they have a dream and go to work to acheve it.

Find something to fuel your ambition. Go to work toward it, day by day. You will be impressed at the outcome.

Humble Pie

I am really not much of fan of pie, but I sure ate a few slices this past week. First, I received some comments from a guy who read my blog and was candid with his view that I spend a fair amount of time in here "bragging" about my accomplishments. Ouch. He makes some valid points if one chose to read my posts with a view that the author (me) was pretty high on himself.

Reality is, I am really not. The journey to climb back out the deep, dark canyon and start my life over again has been a very tough ascent. Trust me, I am not claiming that I am on top of the world. But I refuse to give up, and make no apology for how far the journey has taken me so far

Then came yesterday's training day - talk about humbling. I rode 170 miles over 14 hours. 2 hours on the bike, 1 hour off. By 7:00pm last night I was spent. Came home to woof down some humble pie (and a few protein drinks). RAAM will be, by far, the toughest thing I have ever attempted. Today I feel a bit foolish for even thinking about taking on the 2 man RAAM.

Like everything, I press on. 10 weeks to go until RAAM I will not quit my attempt to be in the best condition possible. I say that about my life almost every single day. The only healthy, viable option is to get out of bed each day and face it. At times it is excruciating to do even that.

Roll on. Live wildly. You might be misunderstood and scorned for it. Hey, it means you are 100% alive.

Giving To A Good Cause

Last week I rode my bike 400 miles. The same distance from my mom's house to Disneyland. When I was a kid, that trip took us "forever," or so it seemed. In 12 weeks I will begin an adventure that will require me to ride 1500 miles in about 8 days. Yes, I am pretty much overwhelmed at the idea of it all. But, I am willing to click off the miles in preparation for it.

Why? The opportunity to draw attention to the cause of organ donation awareness is ripe. My desire is for the cause to bask in the attention it may draw as TDL competes in RAAM. The added bonus for me is that I am lucky as heck to manage the organization, spending most of my waking hours to promote the cause.

Here is the embarrassing part - I don't give much money to the cause. Sure, I make a monthly pledge to TDL, which is in reality a pittance. It's easy to mask my passion for the cause by giving my time, knowledge and energy.

Like it or not, I know of no noble cause or grand mission that is sustained by passion alone. It takes money. Sure, I appreciate the example set by Gates, Bono, Branson, Lance, etal. Every day I talk with individuals and corporations about giving to the cause.

Hey Kent, perhaps it's time to put your money where your mouth is! Darn, my mouth is plenty big. Must mean greater amounts of money. Sure, I have every excuse in the book about why I don't give more. The most lame excuse? "I can't afford it." Laughable. I have NO problem affording Starbucks, CD's, cyling gear, Pellegrino Water, Chipotle or a trip to the Eddie Bauer Outlet.

I have opened my heart and my time. It's time to open my wallet. I gotta get outta here and head for Starbu...never mind.